The officer on the left wears a scarlet doublet with yellow facings and silver lace on the collar and cuffs. Captains were distinguished by having a line of Russia braid tracing the edge of the half-inch lace on the cuff. For subalterns and captains there was no lace on the edges of the Inverness skirt flaps. In 1903 officers of the Cape Town Highlanders were permitted to have gold lace in place of the silver. The collar badges were the silver metal thistles prior to 1902. Both men wear full plaid with silver plaid brooches ornamented with a cairngorm. And they both have badger sporrans in the style of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. Ranks below sergeant had plainer sporrans without the badger. The officer has a dirk in a sheath hanging on the right side of his white leather waist-belt. This would be easier to see if the captain was not so determined to strike a gallant pose. He holds a basket-hilted broadsword which is attached to a white shoulder-belt with white leather slings.
The sergeant wears the first pattern glengarry bonnet which has a red and white diced pattern. His silver badge is placed on a black silk backing and has blackcock’s tail feathers rising from it. His rank stripes are of silver lace, as are his buttons. He carries a cane but there is no sign of a sword.
